"IRENE": A definite "moldy-oldie" first produced in 1919 with at least 2 Broadway revivals under its belt and a long run in England. The show was revamped in 1973 as a vehicle for Debbie Reynolds (her real-life daughter, Carrie Fisher, was in the chorus).

This number (obviously the title song) takes place at the AAAAA Piano Company (named such so it would be the first listing in the telephone book). This is also the reason for the prominent and complex piano part[s] in the orchestration and includes a variety of dance-types from soft shoe to a military march to a parade (complete with caliope!) to a marvelously complex tap routine and the (always popular) kick-line which takes place ON TOP of several player pianos.

Those familiar with the cast recording of the 1973 version (and no--it's not been re-released on CD) will notice almost 3 minutes of dance music cut from the album. I revamped the first 26 bars (because it is a BORING "ad libbed" solo) to make it interesting for the listener and easier to sing until things get going... the real "meat" of the song starts after Irene and Donald have a "lovers quarrel" and he storms out of the piano store and the Ninth Avenue Boys enter to cheer her up with a barbershop quartet and a production number. (Kind of sickening sweet- -don'tcha think?) Also included is the "Tag" which is "aftermusic" when the cast scatters following the "pretty picture" ending.

One of the "novelties" about this file is that I sequenced the entire piece WITHOUT the use of my music keyboard. Using my software, I sequenced it using my mouse--so each note is where it should be (and there's a LOT of them!!). It was time-consuming --but the result was well worth it (at least I think so!)

Only problem is that everything is so "perfect" that sometimes there are cut-outs or "drags" when there's too much for the pc to "do" on a perfect downbeat. And besides, any student or teacher of music will tell you there's no such thing as a "perfect performance". When I previewed the song for a friend, he had this stunned look on his face and his jaw had dropped and he asked, "How long did it take you to do that??" So I made the mistake of figuring it out--a 7½ minute piece of music with an average of 2 hours/day for 60 days = 120 hours (or about 16 HOURS for each MINUTE of music) Maybe I should get a life...........???

The lyrics are simple and repeated over and over. I thought maybe you'd enjoy putting in the vocals yourself...it CAN be done! However, I recommend that you not dance on top of your piano. The "general" lyric is:

Irene--a little bit of salt and sweetness.
Irene--a dainty slip of rare completeness.
Mannerism. Magnetism. Eyes of youth inviting.
Dancing by with glancing eye--
The flush of her exciting.

Siren--the sort who captures hearts to charm them.
Careful! Beware!
Now she's here--now she's there followed by her set.
Up she goes--down she goes. Everybody's pet.
Near or far--there you are. Captured in the net
Of tippity witch Irene O'Dare.
(What the heck is a "tippity witch"???)

CODA: Irene! Irene! Irene! Irene!
Miss I-rene O'...
O'Dare!